Does anyone know what type of transmission oil a 1983 240D stick shift would take? I asked the local auto parts store and they didn't know.

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1983 Stick Shift 240D (223K)

ATF or Redline MT-90

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Len
'59 220S Cabriolet-SOLD and living happily in Malta
'83 240D 351,500 miles original owner-SOLD
'88 560SL 41,000 miles - totaled and parted out
https://sites.google.com/site/mercedesstuff/home
'99 E300 turbo 227,500 miles
'03 SLK320 40,000 miles - gave to my daughter
'14 Smart electric coupe 28,500 miles
'14 Smart electric cabriolet 28,500 miles
'15 Smart electric coupe 28,000 miles

Mine (1980) has Mobil1 10w-30 as per FSM.

I might try Redline MTL next time....

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Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT

I have used ATF. The last 2 changes have been Mobil1 10-30. The synchros are still notchy with it .... maybe next time I'll try Redline.

We've had Redline MTL in the 77 240D's 4speed for the past couple years and 10k or so. I'm not sure exactly how long.
I've been so happy with it in my 242T that I flushed then changed the 240D to MTL right after we got it. Nice smooth shifts and a relatively quiet gearbox, considering the age and design.

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1971 280 SEL
1981 Volvo 242Tic | 1980 Bertone Coupe

The manual for my '83 240D calls for ATF. I think there were one or two years where Mercedes called for engine oil. I think that every year from the beginning of time except for those two years or so, Mercedes called for ATF. My ponton calls for ATF. I think that the later manual transmissions, i.e. like my '83, is the same transmission as the earlier ones that called for the engine oil. I don't know whether or not Mercedes changed their recommendation or not on the engine oil for those transmissions.

__________________
Len
'59 220S Cabriolet-SOLD and living happily in Malta
'83 240D 351,500 miles original owner-SOLD
'88 560SL 41,000 miles - totaled and parted out
https://sites.google.com/site/mercedesstuff/home
'99 E300 turbo 227,500 miles
'03 SLK320 40,000 miles - gave to my daughter
'14 Smart electric coupe 28,500 miles
'14 Smart electric cabriolet 28,500 miles
'15 Smart electric coupe 28,000 miles

Redline oil recommends MTL for that transmission. I wrote them myself and asked for my car.

Scott

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

MT-90 is the wrong oil to use. Since ATF is the fluid to use, D4 ATF is the correct type of RedLine oil.

The folks at the lube place looked it up and it said something like GLS. Any ideas of what that would be?

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1983 Stick Shift 240D (223K)

It's not GLS, it's API-GL5. API GL5 is a heavy duty lubricant used mostly in rear ends and transfer cases though. I don't have a standard transmission, but I've never heard of using ATF in one!

The folks at the lube place are uninformed. GL-5 is gear lube, AKA 90W. This works well in some manual transmissions, but not Mercedes. Run cherry juice (Dexron III or equivalent) and your transmission will be happy.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

Love the quotes by Barry Goldwater, the greatest Senator to ever serve the United States and my favourite along with Ronald Reagan!

I have Redline MTL in my manual 240D. I had a little bit of rough shifting that seems to have gone away. But that could have been change because I put new fluid in.

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So now I'm a bit confused. Could I just use some heavier high quality manual transmission oil or is there something that Mercedes calls for specifically?

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1983 Stick Shift 240D (223K)

I think we all are....due to the changing instructions from Mercedes over the years. Pick your poison and see how it works. I had more trouble with mine when I had DexIII ATF in it Motor oil works better for me, and next time I'll try the Redline MTF and see which one gives me the smoothest shifts and stick with that.

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Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT